Apparatus for coiling wire



F. J. PENlTZ APPARATUS FOR COILING WIRE Nov. 6, 1962 5 Sleeps-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1961 Nov. 6, 1962 I F. J. PENITZ 3,052,472

APPARATUS FOR coILING WIRE Filed Nov. 6, 1961 3Shee ts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PER/NAND J PEN/72 ATTORNEY Nov. 6, 1962 F. J. PENn'z 3,062,472

APPARATUS FOR coILING WIRE Filed Nov. 6, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. FR/A/AA/.O J. PEN/TZ BY ,M/5%

States Unite The present invention relates generally to apparatus for coiling wire and the like and more particularly to the type of wire coiling apparatus wherein wire is laid continuously around an upside-down d-ead block by means of a sheave cage rotatable about the dead block.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide an improved wire coiling apparatus of the type including an opside-down dead block and rotatable sheave cage wherein the dead block and sheave cage float upwardly with the rising top of the wire coil being formed.

It is the primary object of my invention to provide an improved wire coiling apparatus of the type including an upside-down dead block and rotatable sheave cage wherein the dead block and sheave cage float upwardly with the rising top of the wire coil being formed.

As a corollary to the above object, it is a further object of my invention to provide a counterweighted suspension for the sheave cage whereby its floating movement is facilitated.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved wire coiling apparatus of the character set forth in the above objects characterized by the sheave cage being rotatably disposed in a hood enclosure provided with depending manually operable clamping means for engaging the dead block and securing `it in raised position to permit removal of a wire coil formed thereunder,

It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved wire coiling apparatus of the character set forth in the above objects further characterized by the provision of a drive shaft for driving the sheave cage which is tiltable incident to vertical movement of the cage.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to the following specication and attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational View showing the apparatus of the invention in lowered position preparatory to forming a wire coil thereby;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational View showing the apparatus of the invention,- with some parts broken away for clarity, in raised and locked position above a coil of wire formed thereby preparatory to a removal of the coil;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line V--V of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VlVI of FIGURE 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 designates an opstanding frame which includes three spaced vertical posts 4 disposed in a triangular pattern and a Y-shape horizontal sheave beam 6. A coil receiving pallet assembly 8 which includes a pair of spaced upright members or stems 10 is disposed astride a pair of centering guides 12 in the bottom of the frame 2. As will become apparent, the stems 10 serve as a slide for the dead block 14 of the invention and also as a means for receiving convolutions of wire W from the dead block in the coiling operation.

The dead block 14 is an upside-down type having an enlarged diameter circumferential flange 16 at its upper end and a wire receiving circumference 18 extending downwardly from the ange 16. The dead block is proarent Nice vided with holes therethrough whereby it is slidably mounted on the spaced upright members 10. As will become apparent, the members 10 also prevent rotation of the block during the coiling operation. The periphery of the wire-receiving surface 13 of the dead block is notched adjacent its lower edge as at 19 for a purpose which will become apparent hereinafter.

A substantially cylindrical shaped open-bottomed hood 20 is disposed for vertical movement in the frame above the pallet assembly 8. Three guide rollers 22 are mounted exteriorly on the upper portion of the hood for engagement with the vertical posts of the frame to thereby center the hood during its vertical travel within the frame. The top of the hood is provided with an opening 24 having an upwardly extending peripheral flange 25. A flat horizontal plate 26 is rigidly fitted in the opening 24. The plate 26 is formed with a center opening surrounded by a bearing seat 28 for supporting a thrust bearing 30. A pair of opposed plates 32 are welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the ange 25 surrounding the opening 24 in the top of the hood and extend upwardly therefrom. The upper portions of the plates 32 are bent inwardly toward each other and support a pin 34 extending between the plates.

A vertical shaft 36 having a center opening along the upper portion of its length is journaled in the bearing 30 and depends therefrom toward and coaxially with the dead block. The dead block 14 is mounted on the lower end of shaft 36 so as to be vertically movable therewith. The connection between the shaft 36 and the dead block permits the shaft to be rotatable relative to the block. A cage sheave 3S, which may be triangular in configuration, is keyed on the shaft 36 for rotation therewith. Horizontally disposed guide rollers 40, one at each corner of the triangular configuration, are mounted on the bottom of the sheave cage and serve to center the cage during its rotation inside the hood. A vertically disposed wire-guide pulley 42 is rotatably mounted in a bracket 43 affixed to shaft 36 above the sheave cage, and a similar pulley 44 is mounted on the upper portion of the sheave cage. A wire-laying pulley 46 is carried by the bottom portion of the cage. A horizontally disposed rubber-covered pressure roller 48 depends from the bottom of the sheave cage opposite the wire-laying pulley for a purpose to be described.

The driving means for the sheave cage includes a drive gear 50 keyed to the end of the shaft 36 above the plate 26. The drive gear 50 meshes with and is driven by the pinion 5-2 of a worm gear reducer unit 54 which is supported o-n a plate 55, which in turn is supported by and rigidly affixed to the flange 25. The worm 56 of the gear reducer unit is connected, by means of a universal coupling 58, with a drive shaft 60. The opposite end of the drive shaft 60 is connected, by means of a universal coupling 62, to the power shaft 64 of a motor (not shown) positioned at a stationary level. The universal couplings on the ends of the shaft 60 permit the shaft to tilt as the hood 20 moves vertically.

If desired, a motor gear reducer unit (not shown) may be mounted directly on the hood 20 for driving the sheave cage.

The hood 20 is suspended by means of a cable 66 which is attached by one end to the pin 34 extending between the upper portions of the plates 32 and extends therefrom passing over pulleys 68 and 70v suspended from the sheave beam 6 of the frame 2 to a counterweight 72 and from the counterweight to a hand grip ring 74.

A pair of locking crossbars 76 is pivotally suspended from opposite sides of the hood 20 by means of links 78 for engaging the dead block 14 at the notches 19 to prevent the block from rotating when elevated and not engaged by the stems 10 while a wire coil is being removed from the apparatus, as will be more fully ex plained hereinafter. The links 78 on one side of the hood are connected with a manually operable lever 8i) which is manipulated to move the locking crossbars toward and away from the dead block. The crossbars may be locked in open or closed position by inserting a locking pin 82 through suitable registering holes in one of the links 78 and the hood, as best shown in FIGURE 2.

In operation, wire W is fed around a vertical pulley 84 from whence it enters the shaft 36. The wire leaves the shaft 36 at the pulley 42, a peripheral portion of which is disposed in a longitudinal slot in the shaft, and passes over pulley 44 to the laying pulley 46 which then lays the wire around the wire-receiving surface 18 of the dead block 14 in continuous convolutions as the sheave cage 38 revolves. The rubber-covered pressure roller 48 maintains several convolutions of wire on the block at all times for slippage resistance. As the wire convolutions accumulate on the block a downward pressure is exerted by the wire on the base of the pallet assembly 8 and the block is forced upwardly as the coil increases in height. As the dead block floats upwardly it pushes the counterweighted sheave cage and hood assembly upwards at the same time. Even though the sheave cage and hood assembly is counterweighted, the weight of the assembly causes a slight resistance to the upward movement of the dead block. This slight resistance and the vibrations set up by the rotating sheave cage are imparted to the accumulating coil of wire and aid in nesting of the convolutions thereof so that a heavy compact coil is formed.

When the coil accumulates to desired height, the operator raises the sheave cage and hood assembly by pulling down on the hand grip ring 74 and hooking it on a pin 86 which projects laterally from a pneumatic cylinder 88 disposed vertically adjacent the frame 2. The purpose of the cylinder 88 will become apparent hereinafter. This action raises the sheave cage and hood assembly sufficiently to permit the locking crossbars 76 to be swung into engagement with the dead block at the notches 19 by manual manipulation of the lever 8i), as best shown in FIGURE 3. With the dead block thus engaged, the sheave cage and hood assembly is raised further by grasping the grip ring 74 and lowering it into hooking engagement with a pin 90 which projects laterally from the cylinder 88 below the pin 86. This raises the dead block clear of the upright members so that the wire can be cut and the loaded pallet assembly 8 can be removed and an empty one put in its place. While the loaded pallet assembly is being replaced, the sheave cage continues to rotate and lay wire on the dead block which is restrained from rotation by the locking crossbars.

After the empty pallet assembly has been positioned, the grip ring is released from the pin 90, which allows the sheave cage and hood assembly to descend along with the dead block as the latter slides downwardly along the upstanding members 10 until the bottom of the dead block 14 rests on the base of the pallet assembly 8. Then the locking crossbars are swung out of engagement with the dead block. After the locking crossbars have been moved to open, non-engaging position, the convolutions of wire laid on the dead block during the pallet assembly change are deposited on the base of the empty pallet assembly. l

In order to prevent shock damage to the sheave cage and hood, the piston rod 92 of cylinder 88 is connected with the counterweight 72 and to serve as an air-check to control the rate of descent of the sheave cage and hood assembly as it falls with the dead block.

A roller 94 which i-s mounted exteriorly on the hood 2i) engages one of the posts 4 of the frame to take up the thrust created by the sheave cage drive.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for coiling, wire comprising a pallet assembly having spaced stems upstanding thereon, an upside-down dead block slidably vertically on said stems, a vertically movable sheave cage above said dead block rotatable about the vertical axis thereon, means on the cage for laying a wire continuously around said block, a frame extending upwardly about said stems and sheave cage, and a counterweighted suspension means supporting the cage within the frame. for vertical movement.

2. Apparatus for coiling wire as defined by claim 1 including an open-bottomed hood enclosing said cage and movable therewith, and a pair of locking crossbars pivotally suspended from said hood for movement toward and away from said axis to engage or release said block.

3. Apparatus for coiling wire as `defined by claim 2 including manually operable means common to said crossbars for actuating them between releasing and engaging positions.

4. Apparatus for coiling wire as defined by claim 1 including means `for driving said cage, said cage driving means including a shaft extending laterally therefrom having universal couplings rendering said shaft tiltable incident to vertical movement of the cage.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Haugwitz May 12, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Nm 3O2,472 November 6, 1962 Ferdinand J. Penitz It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the -said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l, line 13v beginning with "It is the primary object" strike out all to and including "coil being formedg in line I7 same column; column 4, line 26, for "SIidabIy" read slidable --5 line 28,; for "thereon" read thereof Signed and sealed this imm day of April 1963a (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SwiDER DAVID L- LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

